Best floor for a greenhouse?

haaammit · 8 Jun 2012 at 14:52

I have recently put up a greenhouse and would like to know what kind of flooring materials I should use.

The greenhouse was put up on some grass, so the floor has been covered for the last couple of months to kill/suppress the grass. I was planning on putting some polythene sheet down with loads and loads of holes punched in it followed be about three inches of 20mm crushed gravel. Does that sound ok or are there any other alternatives I should consider? I can do the above for £45 odd quid. I'd prefer cheaper options tbh.

I plan to do all my growing in pots/grow bags, so don't need access to the earth.

Many thanks

Cosmic182 · 8 Jun 2012 at 14:54

you should have put a small base down first to put the greenhouse on, shouldnt have put it on to the grass, if youre wanting cheap which by the looks of things you are, put plantex down (breathable weed resistant fabric) then put gravel on top.

haaammit · 8 Jun 2012 at 14:58

Cosmic182 said:
you should have put a small base down first to put the greenhouse on, shouldnt have put it on to the grass, if youre wanting cheap which by the looks of things you are, put plantex down (breathable weed resistant fabric) then put gravel on top.

Sorry - should have said - the greenhouse has been placed on a levelled ring beam of 6"x4"x2' concrete slabs/kerbstones, but the floor is just earth.

starfighter · 8 Jun 2012 at 15:00

fill it full of moar concrete.

Cosmic182 · 8 Jun 2012 at 15:00

Just pop some plantex down then gravel

saves weeds coming through and the floor sweating (as it would with visqueen-polythene)

Shimmyhill · 8 Jun 2012 at 15:02

Why not grown in the ground? My dad does this with some tiles in the middle to stand on - grows tomatoes and they flourish and can easily renew the soil/compost if needed and looks better than grow bags imo!

I plan to have a greenhouse soon, i have a hard standing that prev had a greenhouse on it but now has a shed so was thinking of going the same way as my dad did - same as you there is a ring of concrete for the structure to stand on.

Bear · 8 Jun 2012 at 15:49

My wife bought some thick rubber mat that was used in a horse stable off ebay as ours stands on a concrete base.

GhostlyPea · 8 Jun 2012 at 16:33

Shimmyhill said:
Why not grown in the ground? My dad does this with some tiles in the middle to stand on - grows tomatoes and they flourish and can easily renew the soil/compost if needed and looks better than grow bags imo!

My mum does this, works a treat. If you want the pots higher then yeah use a table, put some membrane down and cover with gravel as suggested above

- GP

*Moangroan* · 8 Jun 2012 at 17:45

I had grass on my base and I weedkilled it and it has not come back for 2 year lol.....

I think gravel is the easiest but when you drop stuff like compost and a few seeds you cant pick them up or clean up properly.

I have put down some paving slabs from wickes. U would need 15 probably for a 8x6 and they are only about £1.5 - £2each

I just put 8 slabs down the centre and left either side bare.....but with the option of planting straight into the ground or raised beds later or putting some chippings down.

Edrof · 8 Jun 2012 at 19:15

Has anyone said "The ground floor", yet? If not; "The ground floor!"

arknor · 8 Jun 2012 at 19:39

i would use something coarse that deters slugs from coming in and munching your plants

haaammit · 8 Jun 2012 at 23:13

arknor said:
i would use something coarse that deters slugs from coming in and munching your plants

When the main door is open, there'll be a screen/mesh door in it's place, and the rest of the openings will be 4' up. I'm hoping that slug features won't be able to make it past the perimeter, let alone munch my fresh, juicy veggies and fruits

Amp34 · 8 Jun 2012 at 23:27

Edrof said:
Has anyone said "The ground floor", yet? If not; "The ground floor!"

That's how I read the title as well.

But I was going to say the basement.

haaammit · 8 Jun 2012 at 23:34

Amp34 said:
That's how I read the title as well.

But I was going to say the basement.

I can't help it if you scumbags live your lives in blocks of flats

Dullards

arknor · 9 Jun 2012 at 00:20

Quink said:
When the main door is open, there'll be a screen/mesh door in it's place, and the rest of the openings will be 4' up. I'm hoping that slug features won't be able to make it past the perimeter, let alone munch my fresh, juicy veggies and fruits

ive had slugs on my second floor balcony before

missus stepped on one in the dark lol

tom_e · 9 Jun 2012 at 00:25

My dad goes for the growing in the ground option as well, couple of slabs up the middle. Then he's got one side gravelled and with shelving on for all his little seedlings then the other side is bare ground with plenty of good compost worked in that he grows things like tomatoes in.

yhack · 9 Jun 2012 at 07:48

Tarmac

Mark A · 9 Jun 2012 at 08:05

I bought some of that heavy gauge groundsheet/ tarp, with the intention of putting gravel down, but tbh the sheet is holding up great. I may well get a few bags of gravel at some point but its been over a year now and the ground sheet is still in perfect condition.

No problems with slugs in there either and I get loads of slugs in my garden. I picked 140 slugs off my house wall over 2 nights :eek:

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